Method for managing multiple radio access bearers in a single handset

ABSTRACT

A method for managing a voice call while simultaneously running a data application on a handset having a display includes determining whether the display on the handset is on or off; and if the display is off, then suspending data transfer supporting the data application. Other conditions for suspending data transfer include whether an application is in the foreground of the display; whether the handset is in proximity to a user&#39;s head, or if network reception quality exceeds a threshold.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This technical field is directed to the management of multiple radioaccess bearers in a single handset.

BACKGROUND

With many new smartphones operating on faster and more robust networks,users are able to access data applications while simultaneously being ona voice call. The voice channel (also known as a voice bearer) may beoperating at the same time that multiple applications may be accessing adata bearer on a single device. This is known as multiple radio accessbearer (mRAB) calls. The operation of mRAB calls is different than voiceonly (circuit switched) calls.

One of the key differences between a circuit switched call and a mRABcall are the spreading factors used across the various radio accessbearer configurations. The higher rate packet switched radio accessbearer typically utilizes lower spreading factors, and therefore lowerprocessing gains. However, this spreading factor is used across theentire physical channel, which includes the logical channels (such asthe circuit switched radio access bearer and the signaling radio bearer)that are mapped onto that physical channel. The lower spreading factorcorrelates to a lower processing gain for the signaling radio bearer.

Moreover, during mRAB calls, there is much more signaling between theUMTS Radio Access Network (UTRAN) and user equipment (UE) across thesignaling radio bearer than there may be during a circuit switched call.Frequent radio bearer reconfigurations during mRAB calls may slowupdates to the control link between the base station and the UE. If thepacket switched bearer is dropped during such updates, there may be aninterrupted data flow. If the signaling radio bearer breaks down evenmomentarily, there may be dropped voice call. The stress on thesignaling radio bearer may be exasperated under heavy network loads orrapidly changing signal to noise ratios.

SUMMARY

A voice call is managed while simultaneously running a data applicationon a handset having a display by determining whether the display on thehandset is on or off. If the display is off, data transfer supportingthe data application is suspended. Other conditions for suspending datatransfer include whether an application is in the foreground of thedisplay; whether the handset is in proximity to a user's head, whetherthe display is active or in a power saver mode, the signal qualitybetween the handset and a network, or if network reception qualityexceeds a threshold.

In an example embodiment, a method for managing a voice call whilesimultaneously running a data application on a handset, includesdetecting a condition on the handsent, and selectively suspending datatransfer supporting the data application based on detecting thecondition.

In another example embodiment, a tangible storage medium is configuredto have stored thereon computer-executable instructions for running adata application on a handset, detecting a condition on the handsent,and selectively suspending data transfer supporting the data applicationbased on detecting the condition.

In yet another example embodiment, a handset is configured tosimultaneously run a data application on a handset, detect a conditionon the handsent and selectively suspend data transfer supporting thedata application based on detecting the condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an embodiment in which an active voicecall and data application may be operating simultaneously.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the functionality of an exemplaryembodiment of a user equipment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an exemplary method inaccordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary block diagram view of a GSM/GPRS/IPmultimedia network architecture within which multiple radio accessbearers can be managed in a single handset.

FIG. 5 depicts an overall block diagram of an exemplary packet-basedmobile cellular network environment, such as a GPRS network, withinwhich multiple radio access bearers can be managed in a single handset.

FIG. 6 illustrates an architecture of a typical GPRS network withinwhich multiple radio access bearers can be managed in a single handset.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments are herein described with reference to thefigures. With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary system 10of the disclosure. There is shown a handset 12 having a display 14thereon. It will be understood that the present disclosure may use asmartphone as an exemplary embodiment, but the present disclosure shallnot be limited to a smartphone, but may be any type of user equipmentthat is capable of communicating with a network and may or may notinclude a display. The handset 12 (also referred to as user equipment orUE herein) communicates wireless over air link 16 to cellular tower 18.The cellular tower 18 is controlled by a base station controller 20 thatcontrols communication between the cellular tower 18 and network 22. Itwill be understood that network may be any type of network, includingbut not limited to GSM, CDMA, EDGE, 3G, 4G, LTE or any other wirelessnetwork and may also interface and provide access to wired networks,including the internet. Those skilled in the art will understand thatthe configuration of FIG. 1 is a simplified example only and that thedisclosure may operate on a network that has a complete set of networkelements and interfaces, such as that described in connection with FIG.4 through FIG. 6.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown an exemplary functional blockdiagram of user equipment 112. User equipment 112 has a controller 116and a memory 114. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,the controller 116 may be any type of microprocessor that may beutilized in a smartphone or other user equipment, including but notlimited to controllers manufactured by Samsung, Texas Instruments,Qualcomm, Apple and others. As will be further understood by thoseskilled in the art, the memory 114 may be any type of physical memorythat stores program information and data, including but not limited toRAM, EEPROM, flash memory, disc drives, or any other type of memory. Thememory 114 may store the client software that the controller 116 uses toexecute the processes described herein. Also shown is a dialer 132 whichmay be used to initiate voice calls or data transfers using SMS, IM, orother types of data communications.

The controller 116 controls all of the functional processes described inFIG. 2. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that there maybe additional functions of user equipment 112 beyond those shown in thesimplified exemplary embodiment diagram. The lines interconnecting thevarious functions are exemplary only and are not meant to limit theinterconnectivity or interaction of user equipment 112 functions in anymanner. As understood by those skilled in the art, the controller 116communicates with the network using a signaling bearer (not shown) todetermine call quality, signal to noise ratios, call hand-over, networkloading, and other control functions that are used operationally by theuser equipment 112 and the network for wireless communications.

The user equipment 112 may have a display 118. The display 118 may beany type of display known by those skill in the art utilized in userequipment 112, including but not limited to touch screen and non-touchscreen displays. The display 118 may have screen saver or power saveroperational modes. In the context of the present disclosure, the screensaver and/or power saver modes are equivalent and mean that after acertain period of inactivity on the part of a user, the brightness ofthe screen may be decreased, the screen may be turned off, the displaymay be altered to display a logo or other screen saver message that usesless power, or any other type of modification that transitions thedisplay to a screen saver or power saver mode. The user may be able tocontrol the on-off state of the display through control buttons or softkeys (not shown) or by simply tapping the display screen.

The user equipment 112 may have sensors 122. The sensors 122 may includeaccelerometers which detect the movement and orientation of the userequipment 112. The sensors 122 may include position sensors which detectthe position of the user equipment 114 relative to the user. Forexample, the sensors 122 may detect when the user equipment 112 ispositioned near the head of the user indicating that the user may beutilizing the voice channel 120 using the internal speaker (not shown)of the user equipment 112 placed near the user's ear. The sensors 122may detect that the speaker phone (not shown) functionality of the userequipment 112 is being used wherein the user equipment is not placednear the user's ear. Alternatively, the sensors 122 may detect that theBluetooth interface 130 of the user equipment 112 is being used whichmay disable the internal speaker (not shown) of the user equipment 112.It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other conditionsmay be detected by the sensors 122, some of which may be used in thepresent disclosure.

The user equipment 112 typically includes both a voice channel 120 and adata channel 126. In accordance with the present disclosure, the voicechannel 120 and the data channel 126 may be utilized simultaneously bythe user equipment 112. The voice channel 120 and the data channel 126may be mapped to the same physical channel (134) for wirelesscommunication. It will be understood by those skilled in the art thatthe voice channel 120 and the data channel 126 may be controlledoperationally by controller 116. The voice channel 120 may typically bea circuit switched channel while the data channel 126 may typically be apacket switched channel. A user's voice conversation may use the voicechannel 120 while applications 124 running on the user equipment 112 mayuse the data channel 126 for communication with the network. Exampleapplications may include navigation, streaming music or video, games, orany type of the multitude of applications now known or to be created.The data channel 126 may use time division multiplexing for multipleapplications running simultaneously.

The controller 116 may have the ability to suspend the transfer of dataacross the data channel 126 upon the detection of certain conditions.For example, if there is a simultaneous use of the voice channel 120 andthe data channel 126, the controller 116 may choose to favor the voicechannel 120 in order to avoid a poor quality or dropped voice call.There are certain conditions which, if detected by sensors 122, willassist the controller 116 in making decisions as to whether to favor thevoice call. For example, if the sensors 122 detect that the userequipment 112 is up against the user's head, the controller 116 may makethe assumption that the user is not actively involved in the dataapplication that may be running in the background. In such a situation,the controller 116 may suspend data communications across the datachannel 126 until the position of the user equipment 112 is changed.Other conditions which may be detected by the sensors 122 which mayindicate to the controller 116 that data communications may be suspendedinclude, but are not limited to, the display being turned off (meaningthat the display has entered either a screen saver or power saver modeor been turned off by a user), the video associated with dataapplications is not in the foreground of the display. In addition,because the user equipment 112 may normally be monitoring the receptionquality, the controller 116 may be programmed to suspend datacommunications when the detected reception quality of the networkexceeds a certain threshold. Finally, the user may opt to suspend or notto suspend data communications during a voice call. In each case inwhich the data communications have been suspended, data communicationsmay be re-started when any of the detected conditions are no longerpresent or upon command by the user. The controller 116 may also permitcertain alerts, including but not limited to emergency alerts, to usethe data channel 126 regardless of the state of the data communicationsuspension.

In operation and with reference to FIG. 3, there is shown an exemplaryflow chart indicating steps which may be performed in the presentdisclosure. The conditions for the present disclosure include an activevoice call 210 and an active data application 212. At step 214, thenetwork conditions are compared to a threshold. If the network receptionquality exceeds the threshold, then data communications are suspended atstep 222. If not, at step 216, the display is detected to determine itsstate. If the display is off or otherwise in power saver or screen savermode, then the data communications are suspended at step 222. If not, atstep 218, the position of the user equipment 112 is detected. If theuser equipment is in proximity to the head, then the data communicationsare suspended at step 222. If not, at step 220, the decision is made asto whether a data application is in the foreground of the display ismade. If not, then data communications are suspended at step 222. Ifnone of the foregoing data suspense conditions are met, then the datacommunications is enabled at step 224. In any case, the process repeatsitself at step 214 continuously or periodically while the voice call andthe applications are running concurrently so as to monitor theconditions and adjust the data communications suspension or enablementaccordingly. Additionally, those skilled in the art should understandthat the conditions to be detected may be performed in any order and maybe performed individually or as part of a complete set. It should alsobe understood that as an alternative, any one condition such as networkreception quality, may be used to override any other detectedconditions. Finally, as an alternative, the user may choose to overrideany of the detected conditions, including the ability to always enableor always suspend data communications during a voice call or the abilityto always enable or suspend data communications on an application byapplication basis based on the application itself or the anticipatedbandwidth required for the application.

The functionality of the disclosure may be included in client softwareresiding on the user equipment 112. In such a case, logic for performingthe functions set forth above may be included and stored in a computerreadable medium such as memory 114. The computer readable medium mayinclude a memory having a physical structure and be integrated withinthe user equipment 112 or be implemented on a removable memory such as amemory card, memory stick, flash drive or other type of external memory.Additionally, the client software may be stored on a network anddownloaded into RAM of the user equipment for use during mRAB calls.

FIG. 4 is directed to the general operating environment of a host deviceand universal radio module provided herein. Terms such as “cellularcommunications” should be generally understood by those of skill in theart, and should be distinguished from other forms of wirelesscommunications such as those based on the 802.11 protocols. FIG. 4generally illustrates a cellular communications operating environment.The invention and the term cellular communications are not limited toany specific aspects of FIG. 4, but should rather be understood tooperate in and refer to (respectively) operating environments such asthe general type of operating environment illustrated in FIG. 4.

The global system for mobile communication (“GSM”) is one of the mostwidely utilized cellular communications systems in today's fast growingtelecommunication systems. GSM provides circuit-switched data servicesto subscribers, such as mobile telephone or computer users. GeneralPacket Radio Service (“GPRS”), which is an extension to GSM technology,introduces packet switching to GSM networks. GPRS uses a packet-basedwireless communication technology to transfer high and low speed dataand signaling in an efficient manner. GPRS optimizes the use of networkand radio resources, thus enabling the cost effective and efficient useof GSM network resources for packet mode applications.

As one of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, the exemplaryGSM/GPRS environment and services described herein can also be extendedto 3G services, such as Universal Mobile Telephone System (“UMTS”),Frequency Division Duplexing (“FDD”) and Time Division Duplexing(“TDD”), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (“HSDPA”), High-Speed UplinkPacket Access (“HSUPA”), cdma2000 1x Evolution Data Optimized (“EVDO”),Code Division Multiple Access-2000 (“cdma2000 3x”), Time DivisionSynchronous Code Division Multiple Access (“TD-SCDMA”), Wideband CodeDivision Multiple Access (“WCDMA”), Enhanced Data GSM Environment(“EDGE”), International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (“IMT-2000”),Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (“DECT”), etc., as well asto other network services that shall become available in time. In thisregard, the techniques of the invention may be applied independently ofthe method of data transport, and does not depend on any particularnetwork architecture, or underlying protocols.

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary block diagram view of a GSM/GPRS/IPmultimedia network architecture 400 in which the apparatus and methodsfor service delivery based on priority level and/or revenue impact ofthe present invention may be incorporated. As illustrated, architecture400 of FIG. 4 includes a GSM core network 401, a GPRS network 430 and anIP multimedia network 438. The GSM core network 401 includes a MobileStation (MS) 402, at least one Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 404 and aBase Station Controller (BSC) 406. The MS 402 is physical equipment orMobile Equipment (ME), such as a mobile phone or a laptop computer thatis used by mobile subscribers, with a Subscriber identity Module (SIM).The SIM includes an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI),which is a unique identifier of a subscriber. The BTS 404 is physicalequipment, such as a radio tower, that enables a radio interface tocommunicate with the MS. Each BTS may serve more than one MS. The BSC406 manages radio resources, including the BTS. The BSC may be connectedto several BTSs. The BSC and BTS components, in combination, aregenerally referred to as a base station (BSS) or radio access network(RAN) 403.

The GSM core network 401 also includes a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)408, a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 410, a Home LocationRegister (HLR) 412, Visitor Location Register (VLR) 414, anAuthentication Center (AuC) 418, and an Equipment Identity Register(EIR) 416. The MSC 408 performs a switching function for the network.The MSC also performs other functions, such as registration,authentication, location updating, handovers, and call routing. The GMSC410 provides a gateway between the GSM network and other networks, suchas an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Public SwitchedTelephone Networks (PSTNs) 420. In other words, the GMSC 410 providesinterconnecting functionality with external networks.

The HLR 412 is a database that contains administrative informationregarding each subscriber registered in a corresponding GSM network. TheHLR 412 also contains the current location of each MS. The VLR 414 is adatabase that contains selected administrative information from the HLR412. The VLR contains information necessary for call control andprovision of subscribed services for each MS currently located in ageographical area controlled by the VLR. The HLR 412 and the VLR 414,together with the MSC 408, provide the call routing and roamingcapabilities of GSM. The AuC 416 provides the parameters needed forauthentication and encryption functions. Such parameters allowverification of a subscriber's identity. The EIR 418 storessecurity-sensitive information about the mobile equipment.

A Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 409 allows one-to-one ShortMessage Service (SMS) messages to be sent to/from the MS 402. A PushProxy Gateway (PPG) 411 is used to “push” (i.e., send without asynchronous request) content to the MS 402. The PPG 411 acts as a proxybetween wired and wireless networks to facilitate pushing of data to theMS 402. A Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol router 413 isprovided to convert SMS-based SMPP messages to cell broadcast messages.SMPP is a protocol for exchanging SMS messages between SMS peer entitiessuch as short message service centers. It is often used to allow thirdparties, e.g., content suppliers such as news organizations, to submitbulk messages.

To gain access to GSM services, such as speech, data, and short messageservice (SMS), the MS first registers with the network to indicate itscurrent location by performing a location update and IMSI attachprocedure. The MS 402 sends a location update including its currentlocation information to the MSC/VLR, via the BTS 404 and the BSC 406.The location information is then sent to the MS's HLR. The HLR isupdated with the location information received from the MSC/VLR. Thelocation update also is performed when the MS moves to a new locationarea. Typically, the location update is periodically performed to updatethe database as location updating events occur.

The GPRS network 430 is logically implemented on the GSM core networkarchitecture by introducing two packet-switching network nodes, aserving GPRS support node (SGSN) 432, a cell broadcast and a GatewayGPRS support node (GGSN) 434. The SGSN 432 is at the same hierarchicallevel as the MSC 408 in the GSM network. The SGSN controls theconnection between the GPRS network and the MS 402. The SGSN also keepstrack of individual MS's locations and security functions and accesscontrols.

A Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) 433 communicates cell broadcast messagesthat are typically delivered to multiple users in a specified area. CellBroadcast is one-to-many geographically focused service. It enablesmessages to be communicated to multiple mobile phone customers who arelocated within a given part of its network coverage area at the time themessage is broadcast.

The GGSN 434 provides a gateway between the GPRS network and a publicpacket network (PDN) or other IP networks 436. That is, the GGSNprovides interconnecting functionality with external networks, and setsup a logical link to the MS through the SGSN. When packet-switched dataleaves the GPRS network, it is transferred to an external TCP-IP network436, such as an X.25 network or the Internet. In order to access GPRSservices, the MS first attaches itself to the GPRS network by performingan attach procedure. The MS then activates a packet data protocol (PDP)context, thus activating a packet communication session between the MS,the SGSN, and the GGSN.

In a GSM/GPRS network, GPRS services and GSM services can be used inparallel. The MS can operate in one three classes: class A, class B, andclass C. A class A MS can attach to the network for both GPRS servicesand GSM services simultaneously. A class A MS also supports simultaneousoperation of GPRS services and GSM services. For example, class Amobiles can receive GSM voice/data/SMS calls and GPRS data calls at thesame time.

A class B MS can attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSMservices simultaneously. However, a class B MS does not supportsimultaneous operation of the GPRS services and GSM services. That is, aclass B MS can only use one of the two services at a given time.

A class C MS can attach for only one of the GPRS services and GSMservices at a time. Simultaneous attachment and operation of GPRSservices and GSM services is not possible with a class C MS.

A GPRS network 430 can be designed to operate in three network operationmodes (NOM1, NOM2 and NOM3). A network operation mode of a GPRS networkis indicated by a parameter in system information messages transmittedwithin a cell. The system information messages dictates a MS where tolisten for paging messages and how signal towards the network. Thenetwork operation mode represents the capabilities of the GPRS network.In a NOM1 network, a MS can receive pages from a circuit switched domain(voice call) when engaged in a data call. The MS can suspend the datacall or take both simultaneously, depending on the ability of the MS. Ina NOM2 network, a MS may not received pages from a circuit switcheddomain when engaged in a data call, since the MS is receiving data andis not listening to a paging channel In a NOM3 network, a MS can monitorpages for a circuit switched network while received data and vise versa.

The IP multimedia network 438 was introduced with 3GPP Release 5, andincludes an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) 440 to provide rich multimediaservices to end users. A representative set of the network entitieswithin the IMS 440 are a call/session control function (CSCF), a mediagateway control function (MGCF) 446, a media gateway (MGW) 448, and amaster subscriber database, called a home subscriber server (HSS) 450.The HSS 450 may be common to the GSM network 401, the GPRS network 430as well as the IP multimedia network 438.

The IP multimedia system 440 is built around the call/session controlfunction, of which there are three types: an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)443, a proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) 442, and a serving CSCF (S-CSCF) 444. TheP-CSCF 442 is the MS's first point of contact with the IMS 440. TheP-CSCF 442 forwards session initiation protocol (SIP) messages receivedfrom the MS to an SIP server in a home network (and vice versa) of theMS. The P-CSCF 442 may also modify an outgoing request according to aset of rules defined by the network operator (for example, addressanalysis and potential modification).

The I-CSCF 443 forms an entrance to a home network and hides the innertopology of the home network from other networks and providesflexibility for selecting an S-CSCF. The I-CSCF 443 may contact asubscriber location function (SLF) 445 to determine which HSS 450 to usefor the particular subscriber, if multiple HSS's 450 are present. TheS-CSCF 444 performs the session control services for the MS 402. Thisincludes routing originating sessions to external networks and routingterminating sessions to visited networks. The S-CSCF 444 also decideswhether an application server (AS) 452 is required to receiveinformation on an incoming SIP session request to ensure appropriateservice handling. This decision is based on information received fromthe HSS 450 (or other sources, such as an application server 452). TheAS 452 also communicates to a location server 456 (e.g., a GatewayMobile Location Center (GMLC)) that provides a position (e.g.,latitude/longitude coordinates) of the MS 402.

The HSS 450 contains a subscriber profile and keeps track of which corenetwork node is currently handling the subscriber. It also supportssubscriber authentication and authorization functions (AAA). In networkswith more than one HSS 450, a subscriber location function providesinformation on the HSS 450 that contains the profile of a givensubscriber.

The MGCF 446 provides interworking functionality between SIP sessioncontrol signaling from the IMS 440 and ISUP/BICC call control signalingfrom the external GSTN networks (not shown). It also controls the mediagateway (MGW) 448 that provides user-plane interworking functionality(e.g., converting between AMR- and PCM-coded voice). The MGW 448 alsocommunicates with other IP multimedia networks 454.

Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) capable mobile phones register with thewireless network when the phones are in a predefined area (e.g., jobsite, etc.). When the mobile phones leave the area, they register withthe network in their new location as being outside the predefined area.This registration, however, does not indicate the actual physicallocation of the mobile phones outside the pre-defined area.

FIG. 5 depicts an overall block diagram of an exemplary packet-basedmobile cellular network environment, such as a GPRS network, withinwhich geogaming can be implemented. In the exemplary packet-based mobilecellular network environment shown in FIG. 5, there are a plurality ofBase Station Subsystems (“BSS”) 500 (only one is shown), each of whichcomprises a Base Station Controller (“BSC”) 502 serving a plurality ofBase Transceiver Stations (“BTS”) such as BTSs 504, 506, and 508. BTSs504, 506, 508, etc. are the access points where users of packet-basedmobile devices become connected to the wireless network. In exemplaryfashion, the packet traffic originating from user devices is transportedvia an over-the-air interface to a BTS 508, and from the BTS 508 to theBSC 502. Base station subsystems, such as BSS 500, are a part ofinternal frame relay network 510 that can include Service GPRS SupportNodes (“SGSN”) such as SGSN 512 and 514. Each SGSN is connected to aninternal packet network 520 through which a SGSN 512, 514, etc. canroute data packets to and from a plurality of gateway GPRS support nodes(GGSN) 522, 524, 526, etc. As illustrated, SGSN 514 and GGSNs 522, 524,and 526 are part of internal packet network 520. Gateway GPRS servingnodes 522, 524 and 526 mainly provide an interface to external InternetProtocol (“IP”) networks such as Public Land Mobile Network (“PLMN”)550, corporate intranets 540, or Fixed-End System (“FES”) or the publicInternet 530. As illustrated, subscriber corporate network 540 may beconnected to GGSN 524 via firewall 532; and PLMN 550 is connected toGGSN 524 via boarder gateway router 534. The Remote AuthenticationDial-In User Service (“RADIUS”) server 542 may be used for callerauthentication when a user of a mobile cellular device calls corporatenetwork 540.

Generally, there can be a several cell sizes in a GSM network, referredto as macro, micro, pico, femto and umbrella cells. The coverage area ofeach cell is different in different environments. Macro cells can beregarded as cells in which the base station antenna is installed in amast or a building above average roof top level. Micro cells are cellswhose antenna height is under average roof top level. Micro-cells aretypically used in urban areas. Pico cells are small cells having adiameter of a few dozen meters. Pico cells are used mainly indoors.Femto cells have the same size as pico cells, but a smaller transportcapacity. Femto cells are used indoors, in residential, or smallbusiness environments. On the other hand, umbrella cells are used tocover shadowed regions of smaller cells and fill in gaps in coveragebetween those cells.

FIG. 6 illustrates an architecture of a typical GPRS network withinwhich geogaming can be implemented. The architecture depicted in FIG. 6is segmented into four groups: users 650, radio access network 660, corenetwork 670, and interconnect network 680. Users 650 comprise aplurality of end users. Note, device 612 is referred to as a mobilesubscriber in the description of network shown in FIG. 6. In an exampleembodiment, the device depicted as mobile subscriber 612 comprises acommunications device (e.g., communications device 60). Radio accessnetwork 660 comprises a plurality of base station subsystems such asBSSs 662, which include BTSs 664 and BSCs 666. Core network 670comprises a host of various network elements. As illustrated in FIG. 6,core network 670 may comprise Mobile Switching Center (“MSC”) 671,Service Control Point (“SCP”) 672, gateway MSC 673, SGSN 676, HomeLocation Register (“HLR”) 674, Authentication Center (“AuC”) 675, DomainName Server (“DNS”) 677, and GGSN 678. Interconnect network 680 alsocomprises a host of various networks and other network elements. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, interconnect network 680 comprises PublicSwitched Telephone Network (“PSTN”) 682, Fixed-End System (“FES”) orInternet 684, firewall 688, and Corporate Network 689.

A mobile switching center can be connected to a large number of basestation controllers. At MSC 671, for instance, depending on the type oftraffic, the traffic may be separated in that voice may be sent toPublic Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”) 682 through Gateway MSC(“GMSC”) 673, and/or data may be sent to SGSN 676, which then sends thedata traffic to GGSN 678 for further forwarding.

When MSC 671 receives call traffic, for example, from BSC 666, it sendsa query to a database hosted by SCP 672. The SCP 672 processes therequest and issues a response to MSC 671 so that it may continue callprocessing as appropriate.

The HLR 674 is a centralized database for users to register to the GPRSnetwork. HLR 674 stores static information about the subscribers such asthe International Mobile Subscriber Identity (“IMSI”), subscribedservices, and a key for authenticating the subscriber. HLR 674 alsostores dynamic subscriber information such as the current location ofthe mobile subscriber. Associated with HLR 674 is AuC 675. AuC 675 is adatabase that contains the algorithms for authenticating subscribers andincludes the associated keys for encryption to safeguard the user inputfor authentication.

In the following, depending on context, the term “mobile subscriber”sometimes refers to the end user and sometimes to the actual portabledevice, such as a mobile device, used by an end user of the mobilecellular service. When a mobile subscriber turns on his or her mobiledevice, the mobile device goes through an attach process by which themobile device attaches to an SGSN of the GPRS network. In FIG. 6, whenmobile subscriber 612 initiates the attach process by turning on thenetwork capabilities of the mobile device, an attach request is sent bymobile subscriber 612 to SGSN 676. The SGSN 676 queries another SGSN, towhich mobile subscriber 612 was attached before, for the identity ofmobile subscriber 612. Upon receiving the identity of mobile subscriber612 from the other SGSN, SGSN 676 requests more information from mobilesubscriber 612. This information is used to authenticate mobilesubscriber 612 to SGSN 676 by HLR 674. Once verified, SGSN 676 sends alocation update to HLR 674 indicating the change of location to a newSGSN, in this case SGSN 676. HLR 674 notifies the old SGSN, to whichmobile subscriber 612 was attached before, to cancel the locationprocess for mobile subscriber 612. HLR 674 then notifies SGSN 676 thatthe location update has been performed. At this time, SGSN 676 sends anAttach Accept message to mobile subscriber 612, which in turn sends anAttach Complete message to SGSN 676.

After attaching itself with the network, mobile subscriber 612 then goesthrough the authentication process. In the authentication process, SGSN676 sends the authentication information to HLR 674, which sendsinformation back to SGSN 676 based on the user profile that was part ofthe user's initial setup. The SGSN 676 then sends a request forauthentication and ciphering to mobile subscriber 612. The mobilesubscriber 612 uses an algorithm to send the user identification (ID)and password to SGSN 676. The SGSN 676 uses the same algorithm andcompares the result. If a match occurs, SGSN 676 authenticates mobilesubscriber 612.

Next, the mobile subscriber 612 establishes a user session with thedestination network, corporate network 689, by going through a PacketData Protocol (“PDP”) activation process. Briefly, in the process,mobile subscriber 612 requests access to the Access Point Name (“APN”),for example, UPS.com, and SGSN 676 receives the activation request frommobile subscriber 612. SGSN 676 then initiates a Domain Name Service(“DNS”) query to learn which GGSN node has access to the UPS.com APN.The DNS query is sent to the DNS server within the core network 670,such as DNS 677, which is provisioned to map to one or more GGSN nodesin the core network 670. Based on the APN, the mapped GGSN 678 canaccess the requested corporate network 689. The SGSN 676 then sends toGGSN 678 a Create Packet Data Protocol (“PDP”) Context Request messagethat contains necessary information. The GGSN 678 sends a Create PDPContext Response message to SGSN 676, which then sends an Activate PDPContext Accept message to mobile subscriber 612.

Once activated, data packets of the call made by mobile subscriber 612can then go through radio access network 660, core network 670, andinterconnect network 680, in a particular fixed-end system or Internet684 and firewall 688, to reach corporate network 689.

While example embodiments of managing mRAB calls have been described inconnection with various computing devices/processors, the underlyingconcepts can be applied to any computing device, processor, or systemcapable of managing mRAB calls. The various techniques described hereincan be implemented in connection with hardware or software or, whereappropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, the methods andapparatuses of managing mRAB calls can be implemented, or certainaspects or portions thereof, can take the form of program code (i.e.,instructions) embodied in tangible storage media having a tangiblephysical structure. Examples of tangible storage media include floppydiskettes, CD-ROMs, DVDs, hard drives, or any other tangiblemachine-readable storage medium (tangible computer-readable storagemedium). When the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine,such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for managing mRABcalls. In the case of program code execution on programmable computers,the computing device will generally include a processor, a storagemedium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatilememory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at leastone output device. The program(s) can be implemented in assembly ormachine language, if desired. The language can be a compiled orinterpreted language, and combined with hardware implementations.

The methods and apparatuses for managing mRAB calls also can bepracticed via communications embodied in the form of program code thatis transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electricalwiring or cabling, through fiber optics, wherein, when the program codeis received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as an EPROM,a gate array, a programmable logic device (PLD), a client computer, orthe like, the machine becomes an apparatus for managing mRAB calls. Whenimplemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combineswith the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates to invokethe functionality of managing mRAB calls.

While the management of mRAB calls has been described in connection withthe various embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understoodthat other similar embodiments can be used or modifications andadditions can be made to the described embodiment for performing thesame types of functionality in service delivery without deviatingtherefrom. Therefore, the management of mRAB calls should not be limitedto any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth andscope in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A device comprising: a processor; and memory coupledto the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions thatwhen executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuateoperations comprising: concurrently performing a voice call whileexecuting a data application on the device that is coupled to a network;detecting, by the device, a condition on the device, the conditioncomprising a signal quality between the device and the network beingbelow a threshold signal quality; responsive to detecting the condition,maintaining performance of the voice call and suspending data transfersupporting the data application without suspending the data application;and enabling data transfer when the signal quality exceeds thethreshold.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein, upon removable of thecondition, data transfer is enabled without restarting the dataapplication.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein: the device comprises adisplay; the condition further comprises whether the display is activeor in a power saver mode; and data transfer is suspended if the displayis in the power saver mode.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the datatransfer is enabled when the display exits from the power saver mode. 5.The device of claim 1 wherein: the device comprises a display; thecondition further comprises whether the data application is in aforeground of the display; and data transfer is suspended if the dataapplication is not in the foreground of the display.
 6. The device ofclaim 5 wherein the data transfer is enabled when the data applicationis in the foreground.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition isproximity of the handset to a user's head and wherein the suspendingstep is executed if the proximity is less than a threshold distance. 8.The method of claim 7 wherein the data transfer is enabled when theproximity exceeds the threshold distance.
 9. The method of claim 1further comprising overriding the suspending step.
 10. The method ofclaim 9 wherein there is a plurality of data applications and thesuspending step is executed for a subset of the data application.
 11. Atangible computer readable storage medium comprising executableinstructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor toeffectuate operations comprising: concurrently performing a voice callwhile executing a data application on the device that is coupled to anetwork; detecting, by the device, a condition on the device, thecondition comprising a signal quality between the device and the networkbeing below a threshold signal quality; responsive to detecting thecondition, maintaining performance of the voice call and suspending datatransfer supporting the data application without suspending the dataapplication; and enabling data transfer when the signal quality exceedsthe threshold.
 12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the data transfer isenabled upon removable of the condition.
 13. The medium of claim 11,wherein: the device comprises a display; the condition comprises whetherthe display is active or in a power saver mode; and data transfer issuspended if the display is in the power saver mode.
 14. The medium ofclaim 13 wherein the data transfer is enabled when the display exitsfrom the power saver mode.
 15. The medium of claim 11, wherein: thedevice comprises a display; the condition comprises whether the dataapplication is in a foreground of the display; and data transfer issuspended if the data application is not in the foreground of thedisplay.
 16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the data transfer isenabled when the data application is in the foreground.
 17. A methodcomprising: concurrently performing a voice call while executing a dataapplication on a mobile device that is coupled to a network; detecting,by the mobile device, a condition on the mobile device, the conditioncomprising a signal quality between the device and the network beingbelow a threshold signal quality; responsive to detecting the mobiledevice-specific condition, maintaining performance of the voice call andsuspending data transfer supporting the data application withoutsuspending the data application; and enabling data transfer when thesignal quality exceeds the threshold.